23 June 2017

News Story: Rody expected to discuss security issue with Widodo

By Alexis Romero

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte was expected to discuss security issues with Indonesia President Joko Widodo yesterday as fighting between government troops and militants in Marawi City dragged on to its fifth week.

Duterte told reporters in Cagayan de Oro he would ask Widodo about the Indonesian fighters who fought alongside the Maute group, a band of terrorists aligned with the extremist Middle East-based Islamic State (IS).

“I think most of the foreign fighters were Indonesians,” he added. Duterte’s spokesman Ernesto Abella could not elaborate on the discussion between the two leaders.

“I’m sure they’ll be talking security matters, but we don’t have the details of the plans for that conversation,” Abella said in a press briefing yesterday.

Duterte earlier said he was disappointed that Maranaos allowed IS fighters to enter Marawi City to introduce their extremist ideology.